COMMENT ON THE GOSPEL
XIX SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite
As Jesus comes at the same time to our Body and our soul, we must ensure that one and the other appear worthy of such a favor.
1. ° I say that the first provision is the one that refers to the body, that is, being fasting, not having eaten or drunk anything, from midnight. (...)
2. ° I also say that we must present ourselves with decent dresses; I do not pretend that they are rich suits or ornaments, but they should not be neglected and spoiled: unless you do not have another dress, you must present yourself clean and neat. Some have no need to change; others do not change due to negligence. The first lack nothing, since it is not their fault, but the others act badly, since this is a lack of respect for Jesus, who with so much pleasure enters his heart. You must come well combed; with a clean face and hands; you should never appear at the Sacred Table without wearing good or bad socks. But this does not mean that I approve of the behavior of those young women who make no difference between going to the Holy Table or attending a dance; I don't know how they dare to present themselves with such vain and frivolous attire before a humiliated and despised God. My God, my God, what a contrast!...
3.º The third provision is the purity of the body. This sacrament is called "Bread of the Angels", which tells us that, to receive it with dignity, we must get as close as possible to the purity of the Angels. St. John Chrysostom tells us that those who have the misfortune to let their heart be prey to impurity, should refrain from eating the Bread of the Angels because, otherwise, God would punish them. In the early days of the Church, those who sinned against the holy virtue of purity were condemned to remain three years without communion; and if he relapsed, he was deprived of the Eucharist for seven years. This is easily understood, since this sin stains the soul and body. St. John Chrysostom himself tells us that the mouth that receives Jesus Christ and the body that keeps it within itself, must be purer than the rays of the sun. It is necessary that all our exterior bearing gives, to those who see us, the feeling that we are preparing for something great.
You will have to agree with me that, if the dispositions of the body are so necessary for communion, those of the soul will be so much more so, in order to make us worthy of the graces of Jesus Christ brings us by coming to us in Holy Communion. If in the Holy Table we want to receive Jesus in good dispositions, it is necessary that our conscience does not regret us in the least, as far as serious sins are concerned; we must be sure that we spend in examining our sins the time necessary to be able to declare them with precision; nor should our conscience regret the accusation that we have made of them in the court of Penance, and at the same time we must maintain a firm purpose of putting, with the grace of God, all the means not to relapse; it is necessary to be willing to fulfill, As soon as it is possible for us to do so, the penance that has been imposed on us. To better penetrate the greatness of the action we are going to perform, we must look at the Holy Table as the tribunal of Jesus Christ, before which we are going to be judged.
(...) Yes, those who approach the Sacred Table without having completely purified their heart, are exposed to receiving the punishment of that servant who dared to sit at the table without wearing the wedding dress. The owner ordered his servants to turn him on, tie him hands and feet and throw him into the outside darkness (Mal., XXII, 13). Likewise, at the hour of death, Jesus Christ will say to the unfortunates who received him in his heart without having converted: "Why did you dare to receive me in your heart, having stained it with so many sins?" We must never forget that to communicate it is necessary to be converted and in a firm resolution to persevere.
Church of the Savior of Toledo at 8:09:00
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